I am an avid reader.  There is just about nothing I like better than being in the middle of a good book.  My favorites happen to be historical fiction where I can use my imagination to learn about a period in time, or give me a good non-fiction book that will help me learn something new I can use right away. There is just something about summer that lends itself to reading…maybe it’s the long lazy, hot days or vacations away from the everyday that allow more time to read. Either way, I find that I read more during this time of the year and I want to make sure I am reading great stuff!

Like many people with ADHD have experienced, one of the challenges of being an enthusiastic reader is keeping up with my interests and keeping track of my books. I typically have at least three or four books open and bookmarked on my nightstand. I like to have several books going at one time. I also have lists of titles of what I want to read on my Kindle (these electronic ‘libraries’ are great gifts for avid readers with ADHD).  And I know that having multiple copies, or ‘borrowing” the same book many times (not realizing that you’ve already read it, or read half of it and decided not to finish it) is common.

Here are three quick tips if you have ADHD and love to read:

1. If you prefer to borrow books from the library, make sure you sign up for the alerts to your email AND phone for when your books are due. That way you can be warned and bring the books back before you are fined.
2. A great way to keep track of the books you have read (or want to read) is to create a free account on Goodreads.com and add in your books after you have read them. Cuts down on buying/borrowing the same books over and over again.
3. And finally, if you have borrowed a book from someone and are reluctant to return it because it seems way past any social grace period of “borrowing”, return it anyway. Set it on their doorstep, or put it in the mail with a nice hand written note of thanks.  As someone who is always loaning my ADHD books out, I am always thrilled to have them back on my shelf to loan to someone else and I honestly can’t remember who or when it might have been borrowed.

Whether you love mysteries, adventure, romance, science fiction or nonfiction, I hope you are able to fill your summer with books that keep you entertained and engaged. And this summer, if you’re looking to read some really great books about ADHD or learn new ways to manage your ADHD, here are some of my favorites:

• Learning Outside of the Lines by Jonathan Mooney
• What Does Everyone Else Know that I Don’t by Michele Novotni
• Permission to Proceed by David Giwerc
• Confessions of an ADDiva: Midlife in the Nonlinear Lane by Linda Roggli
• 365 Ways to Succeed with ADHD: A Full Year of Valuable Tips and Strategies From the World’s Best Coaches and Experts by Laurie Dupar
• 365 +1 Ways to Succeed with ADHD: A Whole New Year’s Worth of Tips and Strategies From the World’s Best Coaches and Experts by Laurie Dupar
• Brain Surfing & 31 Other Awesome Qualities of ADHD: Real life stories and examples about the positive attributes of living with ADHD by Laurie Dupar
• ADHD & Teens by Colleen Alexander-Roberts
• ADHD: A Survival Guide for Parents and Teachers by Richard A. Lougy and David K Rosenthal
• Fidget to Focus by Roland Rotz and Sarah D. Wright

I’d love to hear from you…what is your favorite book about ADHD as well as the best book you’ve read this summer?  Add a comment below or join the discussion on our Facebook page!

Laurie Dupar, Senior Certified ADHD Coach and trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, specializes in working with clients who have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and want to finally understand how their brain works, minimize their challenges and get things done! Through individual/group coaching, live speaking, and her writing, she helps clients and their loved ones use effective strategies to minimize their ADHD challenges so they can experience success. She is the co-author and editor of 365+1 Ways to Succeed with ADHD and author of Brain Surfing and 31 Other Awesome Qualities of ADHD. For more information, please visit https://www.coachingforadhd.com.